Rat small intestinal goblet cell kinetics in the process of restitution of surface epithelium subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Repair of superficial damage to gastrointestinal mucosa occurs by a process called restitution. Goblet cells reside throughout the length of the intestine and are responsible for the production of mucus. However, a kinetic analysis of goblet cell dynamics of small intestine in restitution has hitherto not been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of goblet cells in the process of restitution of rat small intestine subjected to ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion injury, and therefore intestinal epithelium from rats subjected to both ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion was studied. Detachment of enterocytes was observed after 5-min of reperfusion. After 20-30 minutes of reperfusion, the denuded villous tips were covered with goblet cells. Within 75 min of reperfusion the epithelium restitution was complete. On the other hand, restitution was not observed in ischemia group. These data suggest that goblet cells may play an important role in restitution after ischemia-reperfusion injury.